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Friday, Jul 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker’s campaign released three ads featuring Illinoisans who came together and stepped up to help lead efforts in their communities to get Illinois through the COVID pandemic.

“It’s the people of Illinois all across the state who came together during tough times to lead the effort to save lives and protect livelihoods during the state’s response to the COVID pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “It’s the people of Illinois who motivate me every day and I’m excited to be running for re-election to continue to lift up working families and move Illinois in the right direction.”

No word yet if these are scheduled for broadcast or cable. I’ll let you know.

…Adding… The spots will begin running on broadcast and cable TV this weekend throughout the state. [Headline updated to reflect this new info.]

…Adding… The cable/satellite buy so far for the first week is $153,854.

* “Meet Jenica”…

Script…

Meet Jenica. When things were at their worst she volunteered to be part of the state’s response to COVID, one of the many nurses who put themselves at risk to save lives, and they needed protection to keep up the fight. Illinois health care workers never wavered, and people like Jenica showed us that together, there’s no challenge we can’t overcome.

* “Meet Corey“…

Script…

Meet Corey. In addition to being a physician assistant, for seven years he’s been a committed member of our Illinois National Guard. And when I called on the Guard to help set up testing and vaccination sites they led the way to getting the job done. Our state is back to business because we refused to let this pandemic beat us, and people like Corey remind us anything is possible for Illinois.

* “Meet Doris and Rick”…

Script…

Meet Doris and Rick. When COVID hit, they stopped production of bourbon at their distillery to instead make hand sanitizer for nurses, doctors, and other frontline workers. Like so many Illinoisans they understood that the only way through the pandemic was looking out for each other. Now the bourbon’s flowing again in Rochelle and we’re on our way back. I’m so inspired by the people of Illinois—we can accomplish anything if we continue to work together.

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Pritzker campaign manager Quentin Fulks to take over Sen. Warnock’s re-election bid, replaced here by Mike Ollen

Friday, Jul 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker today announced Mike Ollen will lead his 2022 re-election campaign as Campaign Manager.

“I’m excited to kick off this campaign and continue to fight for the people of Illinois and lift up working families all across the state,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “With Mike at the helm I know we will build a robust operation that is not only going to keep the Governor’s Office blue but also make sure we’re electing Democrats up and down the ticket across Illinois to keep moving our state in the right direction.”

Ollen is a Democratic campaign veteran of numerous US Senate and presidential campaigns, including those of former President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Pritzker also congratulated longtime political advisor Quentin Fulks on his new position as Campaign Manager for Senator Raphael Warnock’s re-election campaign in Quentin’s home state of Georgia.

“Quentin has been instrumental in our work to put Springfield back on the side of working families and make incredible progress for the people of Illinois. I’m so thankful to have had him on my team these past few years working to advance our Democratic values and I can’t wait to watch him continue to fight for the people of his home state of Georgia. I consider him family and I wish him the best of luck,” said Pritzker.

This week Governor JB Pritzker announced he and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton will run for re-election to a second term in 2022, releasing a video that highlights the strength of the state’s response to the COVID pandemic and JB’s commitment to the people of Illinois.

That’s a huge opportunity for Fulks. Warnock’s campaign will be at the top of the national Democratic priority list, so a potential win there would be a very big thing indeed. And he gets to go back home.

…Adding… Atlanta Journal-Constitution…

There’s a new mover-and-shaker in Georgia politics who deserves your attention: Quentin Fulks.

The native of Ellaville – the tiny Georgia town that also produced comedien Blaire Erskine – Fulks was deputy campaign manager for J.B. Pritzker’s campaign for Illinois governor in 2018 and later oversaw the Democrat’s political operation while he was in office.

Fulks is now returning to his home state to serve as campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s re-election campaign. The senator called Fulks a “national talent who brings vast experience and a love of our state.”

“I know he’s the right person to lead our campaign in 2022,” he said.

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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Friday, Jul 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Follow along with ScribbleLive…

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*** UPDATED x1 *** New laws: OTC birth control; Telehealth access; Help for homeless college students; Media literacy

Thursday, Jul 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WGEM…

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed HB 0135 into law Thursday, granting Illinoisans access to birth control over the counter.

According to state officials, the legislation removes barriers to care that may have previously prevented residents from accessing hormonal contraception, including lack of access to a physician willing to prescribe birth control.

State officials stated HB 0135 also expands Medicaid to cover over-the-counter birth control costs for plans that currently cover physician-prescribed birth control. And to ensure the price of contraception remains feasible, HB 0135 includes mandates for insurance policies regulated by the State to cover birth control that is dispensed by a pharmacist.

* Press release…

Joined by healthcare leaders and elected officials at Mount Sinai Hospital, Governor JB Pritzker today signed HB 3308 into law, increasing access to telehealth services in communities across Illinois. The new law builds upon ongoing efforts to ensure that all Illinoisans have uninterrupted access to telehealth, which they received from trusted health care providers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

The legislation prevents insurance plans from requiring a patient to attend an in-person visit before a telehealth service. It also expands the early intervention services that can be provided through telehealth. To protect confidentiality, the bill bars insurers from requiring patients to provide a reason—such as proof of hardship or an access barrier—for choosing a telehealth visit over an in-person consult. Additionally, an insurer cannot require patients see a healthcare provider virtually if they prefer an in-person visit, nor can an insurer mandate that physicians offer telehealth.

* NPR Illinois…

Starting next August, under a law passed unanimously in the General Assembly and signed last week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, all public and private post-secondary institutions – two and four-year colleges and vocational, technical and business schools — will have to designate someone as a liaison to assist homeless students.

High school districts in Illinois have had liaisons to help homeless kids under a 1987 federal law — the McKinney-Vento Act — with issues like enrollment, access to resources and transportation. There was no such no requirement to help college students in Illinois. The new law changes that situation.

State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a lawmaker from Chicago suburb Western Springs, said she was eager to take on the legislation because she remembers hosting homeless student friends of her then-college age children.

* Center Square…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that amends the state’s school code to include a media literacy unit in the existing computer literacy curriculum.

State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, a Democrat, filed the bill. Some Republicans opposed the bill, concerned that it would lead to school boards picking what media outlets are reputable.

House Bill 234 requires school districts to add media literacy instruction to the computer literacy curriculum.

State Sen. Karina Villa, a Democrat and chief Senate sponsor for the new legislation, said that while students are online more than ever, they are still vulnerable to misinformation.

*** UPDATE *** ISBE…

Hi Rich.

We noticed that you published an excerpt from a publication yesterday re: a media literacy law, describing it as being incorporated into the computer literacy portion of the school code. Computer literacy was incorporated into Article 10 of the school code. Once media literacy is enacted, it will be incorporated into Article 27 of the school code. The two measures are unrelated. The Public Act associated with HB234 does not even contain the word “computer.”

Thx. Hope all is well your way.

Januari Trader
Communications Specialist
Public Relations
Illinois State Board of Education

* More…

* Another Round Of Illinois Equal Pay Act Amendments

* Legislation would require some landlords to accept more pets

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Asked about White House ambitions, Pritzker says “I have no plans”

Thursday, Jul 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Dave Dahl’s interview with Gov. JB Pritzker…

DD: I’ve got one minute left. You don’t get to be JB Pritzker without having a long-term plan. You’re running for re-election now. But you know, you can walk and chew gum at the same time. What about the longer game, should you be so fortunate beyond the second term?

JBP: Don’t you think thinking about the next four years is a fairly long term to think about?

DD: Not at all.

JBP: It’s an awful long time to think about. We have a lot of challenges in the state of Illinois that I want to work on and overcome. And so I’m gonna continue to do the job and do it well for the people of our state. And that’s really what I’m focused on.

DD: Washington? Maybe even Pennsylvania Avenue?

JBP: I went to Washington. I went to Pennsylvania Avenue and met with President Biden. I think we’re getting things done for our state as a result of a good relationship that I have with him. And we’ll continue to work on that. But I have no plans myself.

DD:Not even in the long, long game?

JBP: [Laughs] Thanks for asking, Dave. I’m flattered by the question.

My own opinion is that those who constantly claim he’s setting up a White House bid are the same folks trying to undercut him here at home. Not talking about Dave here. He just asked a question. After my own interview, I regretted not asking the governor if he’d commit to serving all four years if reelected, just to get him on the record. Then again, the last time I put him on the spot like that (regarding fair maps), he flip-flopped on his response.

…Adding… Good point in comments…

Everyone knows that Kamala Harris will be running after Joe Biden - either in 24 or 28. You really think JB’s going to get between the possibility of the first black woman president and the White House? Ummm, ok.

43 Comments

*** LIVE COVERAGE ***

Thursday, Jul 22, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today’s post is sponsored by the Association Of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. Follow along with ScribbleLive…

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